Local Insights
Opendoor’s Las Vegas General Manager on why she’s ‘all in’ on Sin City
Reading Time — 5 minutes
September 20, 2018
By Kelsey Pfeffer
Reading Time — 5 minutes
September 20, 2018
Las Vegas may have a reputation for being ‘sin city,’ but after talking with Opendoor Las Vegas General Manager Akilah Rogers, it’s easy to see the softer side. She is customer obsessed, loves giving back to the community, and has a surprising admiration of the Cullen family from the Twilight books.
Akilah joined Opendoor from Caesars Entertainment Corporation, where she held roles as director of VIP Marketing and Executive Associate to the EVP of Corporate Human Resources. Prior to Caesars, Akilah was the GM of a private-equity backed startup called Manicube.
Her real estate background began in 2009, when she was the owner and operator of a 45-property residential real estate investment portfolio in Chicago where she grew the business from the ground up.
To help us understand a little bit more about her role at Opendoor, Akilah shared her future goals, favorite customer story, and a little bit about her life in Las Vegas.
Q: What attracted you to Opendoor?
A: I was first impressed by (Opendoor CEO) Eric Wu and his experiences in real estate technology, start-ups, and investments. As I learned more about the Opendoor business model, I knew it was the kind of disruption the real estate market desperately needs. After buying and selling more than 30 investment properties, I was well aware of both the pain points and the inefficiencies that could be improved within the real estate transaction process.
Finally, I met a number of the current employees and found everyone to be amazingly smart, kind, and intellectually curious. I knew Opendoor was a place where I could grow as a businesswoman and leader, and positively affect the lives of thousands of people.
Q: What’s your favorite part of being a General Manager (GM) at Opendoor?
A: As the General Manager of Opendoor Las Vegas, I am always excited to go into the office each morning. Our team of 21 is comprised of a diverse set of people who all have a passion for providing an amazing experience and product to our current and future customers.
We consistently iterate to improve our performance and enjoy collaborating. Every single day we are course-correcting our misses and celebrating our successes as a team!
Q: What was your most memorable customer experience?
A: My most memorable customer experience was when an 85-year-old couple came into our office to discuss their offer because they did not understand how to complete the process through the computer. We were so happy to meet them and walk them through the simple process.
The husband was a proud veteran, and the couple was selling their home to move to Arizona. They raved about the simplicity of the process and congenial nature of every employee they interacted with, both on the phone and in person. I was so happy to be a part of their transition to the next chapter in their lives.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’re looking forward to solving over the next 6-12 months?
A: I am focused on responsibly decreasing our operating costs so that we can continue to lower fees for our customers. I am obsessed with operational efficiency and execution, and love identifying areas where we can improve that will make our business better, and our customers happier.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of work?
A: People are often surprised to learn that Vegas has a number of canyons/hiking options. I enjoy the warm weather while hiking or hanging out at a pool. Additionally, I am very aligned with the city’s commitment and focus on philanthropy and volunteer work. I enjoy volunteering my time helping the children in our community through various organizations that support reading, financial literacy, and feeding the homeless.
How has working at Opendoor provided you with the freedom to pursue your hobbies and work/life balance?
A: The Opendoor culture is one of autonomy and respect. We focus on completing work and not checking what time someone came into the office, or what time they leave. This culture affords me the opportunity to work and interact with the in-market team, but also schedule things and revisit my work later in the evening. I personally am a night owl, and I am able to always bring my very best self to the office because I can work a schedule that fits my circadian rhythm.
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant and why?
A: I am lucky enough to work and live in Las Vegas, NV — I would say my favorite restaurants are located on “the strip” at various casino resorts. However, now that I am “local,” I also enjoy some of the restaurants in our outdoor mall areas, like Town Square.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
A: I think the best superpower would be to never need sleep – imagine Edward Cullen and his vampire family from the Twilight movies. Life can be so much more productive AND fun-filled if rest was not a necessity.
Check out our conversations with General Managers of other Opendoor markets:
Opendoor’s Charlotte GM on what it’s like to break ground in a hot real estate market
Talent, tech & time travel: Q&A with General Manager Amit Arora
